Jeff

McNeil

This deal was reported earlier in the day and is now official. It seems likely that McNeil will shift back to the infield for the Athletics and take over the starting second base job. While contact skills remain, McNeil’s production has fallen off from his strong 2022 season. Playing in a minor league ballpark might help him a bit, but the smaller field will actually mean less room in the gap which could hurt his batting average upside more than you’d think.

Rodriguez is a 17-year-old that the A’s signed a year ago. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Mets are giving the A’s $5.75 million of the $15.75 million that McNeil is owed next year and will also cover his $2 million buyout on his $15.75 million option for 2027, assuming that it’s not exercised. McNeil, who was cast aside in favor of Marcus Semien in New York, figures to take over at second for the A’s, who previously tried to sign Ha-Seong Kim for that spot. Zack Gelof will get to battle Max Muncy and others for the third base job, assuming that the A’s also don’t fill that spot with a veteran.

Healey, who covered the Mets before jumping to the Red Sox in the middle of the season, said one option being discussed in signing Paul Goldschmidt. McNeil is also an option in left field for the Mets after being bumped off second base by the Marcus Semien acquisition. He’s also been mentioned as a trade candidate.

This doesn’t necessarily rule McNeil out for the 2026 Mets, given that he could simply take over for Nimmo in left field, but the team’s goal here appears to be improving the defense and getting more athletic. Trading McNeil seems like an obvious next move for the Mets, and there should be teams interested in acquiring him as a second baseman or an outfielder. He’s due $15.75 million next season, and his contract includes a club option for 2027 at $15.75 million with a $2 million buyout. He’d also get an extra $500,000 upon being traded.

It’s the better of the two kinds of thoracic outlet surgery, so McNeil is already recovering well and is expected to be ready for spring training. There’s been some talk that the Mets might look to move him this winter, but he can be penciled in as the primary second baseman for now.

McNeil has a been a .700-OPS guy for three months now, and in spite of that first-half power surge, he’s mustered only 53 RBI through 117 games as a middle-of-the-order hitter. It’s still been a solid enough season on the whole, but he’s been a problem for the Mets of late.

McNeil will take a seat in this one with left-hander Andrew Alvarez toeing the slab for the Nationals. Brett Baty will start in his place at second base and will bat eighth for the Mets on Friday evening in New York.

It’s just a routine day off for the veteran; although, Mullins has really struggled since coming to the Mets, slashing .188/.297/.294 in 26 games with one home run and eight RBIs. He does have six steals over that time, so he continues to provide fantasy value there, but not many other places. Jeff McNeil will start in center field with Starling Marte entering the lineup as the designated hitter.

McNeil delivered a run-scoring single in the fourth inning that tied the game at 2-2. He then rode home on Luis Torrens’ three-run blast. He then singled in the sixth inning and swiped third base but was ultimately stranded there. The 33-year-old also added a two-run single in the seventh that made it a 10-2 ballgame. With his three-hit attack, McNeil is now hitting .264/.353/.458 with 12 homers, 50 RBI and three stolen bases across 386 plate appearances.

If you’re going to get a breather, getting a night off against Paul Skenes isn’t the worst thing in the world. Brett Baty will cover second base for the Mets on Friday night while Tyrone Taylor draws a start in center field and will bat eighth.